Pelicans vs. Jazz Pick
Can the Utah Jazz fend off the New Orleans Pelicans when the two meet up in NBA action tonight at 9PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, the Pelicans are favored on the road tonight, as New Orleans is getting odds of -2.5 points against the Jazz. The over/under total for the contest has been set at 205.5 points. Utah has won four straight meetings with the Pelicans, going 3-0-1 against the spread in those four games. Tonight’s game takes place from Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The Pelicans are coming off back-to-back losses to the Warriors and the Timberwolves. New Orleans is 11-10 overall, 6-5 on the road and 12-9 against the spread. The Pelicans are averaging 108 points per game this season, but also giving up 108.9 points per contest. Anthony Davis is leading the team with 25.6 points and 11 rebounds per game while DeMarcus Cousins is averaging 25.1 points, 12.5 rebounds and 5.4 assists per contest.
Utah is coming off a 126-107 win over the Clippers for their fourth straight win. The Jazz are now 11-11 on the season, 9-4 at home and 12-10 against the spread. Utah is putting up 102.6 points per game this year while allowing just 99.6 per contest. Rodney Hood is leading the team with 17.7 points per game while rookie Donovan Mitchell is adding 15.3 points per contest. The Jazz continue to be without Rudy Gobert, a double-double center, due to a knee injury. Hood is also questionable to play tonight as he continues to deal with an ankle injury.
While the Pelicans seem to have the edge when it comes to scoring talent, their lack of desire to commit on defense is their big issue and will be a problem for them going forward. Utah may not have the offense, but they have a commitment on the defensive end that should keep them in most games. That should apply tonight at home as well. The Jazz are on a win streak for a reason. The public betting siding with the Pelicans, but I think the Jazz get it done at home.
NBA DAILY PREDICTION: UTAH JAZZ +2.5